Physics Faculty Publications

Light scattering by bubbles in liquids: Mie theory, physical-optics approximations, and experiments

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1982

Disciplines

Physics

Abstract

Angular structures in the far-field scattering from bubbles are observed and modeled. Mie theory supports a model of diffraction and interference near the critical scattering angle. A new expression for the angular spacing of fine structure is derived. Photographs of scattering show some of the predicted features. Application of these structures to bubble sizing and detection are summarized and the theoretical extinction coefficient in water is plotted.

Mie computations for bubbles in water also reveal backward and forward glory effects. These are partially manifested as cross-polarized scattering. Observed scattering from bubbles in the near backward direction is found to have a strong cross-polarized component.

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